DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Jesus came into the world to make disciples.
      1. His disciples are conditioned and trained in many ways.
         a. His disciples become better people.
         b. His disciples follow Him wherever He leads them.
         c. His disciples will someday live and reign with Him in
            heaven forever.
   B. To be a disciple of Christ should be our major objective in    
      life. 
      1. It must be the goal that our hearts constantly follow.
   C. Let us examine what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

I. FIRST OF ALL, BEING A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST INVOLVES LEARNING. Mark  
   4:33-34
   A. Jesus diligently, carefully, and patiently taught His          
      disciples. Matt. 5:1-2
      1. They often asked questions and made request of Him. Luke
         8:9-11; 11:1-2
   B. They quickly learned many things from our Lord. Luke 10:23-24;
      Matt. 13:51-52
   C. If we are to be disciples of Christ, we must gain knowledge of 
      His teaching. 

II. JESUS' DISCIPLES WERE TRAINED TO BE LIKE THEIR TEACHER. Luke 6:40
   A. A "disciple" is not only a learner, pupil or student, but an   
      imitator and follower of his teacher.
      1. The word "disciple" comes from the Greek word, "math,"
         which indicates "thought accompanied by endeavor"; hence,
         not only understanding the problem, but working the
         problem.
   B. We are to follow Jesus' example. John 13:15-16
   C. Being a disciple of Christ, causes certain things to follow us 
      just as they did our Master; e.g., persecution. Matt. 10:24-25;
      John 15:20-21
      1. Through these things, we are identified with our Master.

III. A DISCIPLE ABIDES IN HIS TEACHER'S WORD. John 8:32-33
   A. Abiding in Jesus' word causes one to know the truth and the    
      truth brings freedom.
   B. There seems to be a strong tendency for modern-day disciples to
      NOT abide in Jesus' word.
      1. They are often led astray by others. Col. 2:8,18; Eph. 4:14;
         2 Tim. 3:13
      2. They are often led astray by opinions and preconceived
         ideas.
         a. We need to truly know the commandments of our
            Teacher and keep them. John 14:21
      3. Once someone was talking to a scholar about a younger
         man. He said, "So and so tells me that he was one of your
         students." The teacher answered devastatingly, "He may
         have attended my lectures, but he was not one of my
         students."
         a. One of the supreme problems in the Church is that there
            are too many distant followers of Jesus and so few real
            disciples. 

IV. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES HAVING NO RIVALS. Luke 14:26
   A. True discipleship means giving one's first loyalty to Christ.
      Anything less is treason. Jesus must be our only Lord and      
      Master.
      1. There is no other response than full submission to His
         sovereignty.
      2. Someone rightly proclaimed, "We are called to an
         everlasting preoccupation with the Lord."
   B. Since there is no place in Jesus' teaching for literal hatred, 
      He must have intended the degree of love which He expected of  
      His disciples.
   C. We may have a father and enjoy his loving attention, but he
      cannot rival the Lord.
      1. We may have a mother and enjoy her affection, but she
         cannot rival the Lord.
      2. We may have a wife or husband and enjoy their devotion, but
         they cannot rival the Lord.
      3. We may have children and enjoy their company, but they
         cannot rival the Lord.
      4. We may have brothers or sisters and enjoy their friendship,
         but they cannot rival the Lord.
      5. We may have a productive life and enjoy its
         accomplishments, but it cannot rival the Lord.

V. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES BEARING ONE'S CROSS. Luke 14:27; 9:23
   A. The old way of life must be crucified. Gal. 2:20
      1. The old way was, "Not Christ, but I." The new way is, "Not
         I, but Christ."
      2. The life of "I" has been put to death. Now Christ's will is
         supreme in everything.
   B. Passions and lusts must be crucified. Gal. 5:24
      1. Instead of responding to the calls of the fleshly nature, we
         set our affections on things above.
      2. Passions, desires, and hungers are channeled in the right
         direction. Rom. 13:11-14
         a. The word "discipline" and "disciple" are closely related
            words. A disciple is a disciplined individual. He is one
            who bears the cross of discipleship.
   C. Some people were getting a red-carpet tour of a huge, expensive
      church building. With pride, the minister pointed to the rich,
      imported pews and luxurious decorations. As they stepped
      outside, darkness was falling, and a spotlight shone on a huge
      cross atop the steeple. "That cross, alone, cost us ten        
      thousand dollars," the minister said with a satisfied smile.   
      Someone from the group replied, "You got cheated. Christians   
      get crosses for free!"
 
VI. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES NO RETREATS. Luke 14:33
   A. There is no place for tiring in the life of discipleship. Luke 
      9:57-58
      1. There was nothing wrong with the way this one offered his
         allegiance. His only problem was that he did not reckon with
         the cost of discipleship.
      2. While here on earth we are not promised luxurious living, or
         beds of ease.
      3. It is easy to respond with enthusiasm at the outset, but    
         will we follow Him to the end?
   B. There is no place for trifling in the life of discipleship.    
      Luke 9:59-60
      1. The Jews counted the burial ritual of upmost importance. 
      2. The Master's response was sharp and searching. Luke 9:60
      3. We must not let the customs and traditions of men deter us
         from following Christ.
   C. There is no place for turning in the life of discipleship. Luke
      9:61-62
      1. At first this seems reasonable enough.
      2. However, often when the would-be young convert informs
         his parents of his intentions to be baptized, mother and    
         father will plead with tears and threats, and the young     
         person does not obey the gospel.

VII. TRUE DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES LOVING OTHER DISCIPLES. John 13:34-35
   A. Love for one another is the hallmark by which Jesus' followers
      are recognized.
      1. When there is bitterness, strife, and hate among us, we are
         not disciples of Christ.
   B. What is involved in loving one another?
      1. It is to be "as I have loved you." John 13:34
      2. It means being united, having our hearts knit together in
         love. Col. 2:2
      3. It involves forgiveness. 1 Pet. 4:8
      4. It does not imply compromise or weakness. Prov. 13:24
      5. It involves aiding one another. 1 John 3:16-17
   C. In these things, love is reflected.

VIII. A TRUE DISCIPLE BEARS FRUIT. John 15:8
   A. Fruitfulness in prayer life. John 15:7
      1. We cannot pressure or manipulate God. We must humbly
         and diligently petition Him to receive from Him.
   B. Fruitfulness in personal life. Gal. 5:22-23
      1. Exemplifying the fruits of the Spirit is the expression of  
         our discipleship.
   C. Fruitfulness in practical life. John 15:2,5,8
      1. To bear fruit is the exercise of our discipleship.
   D. There is a "cheap grace" that is being emphasized in the       
      religious world today.
      1. "Cheap grace" is the grace one bestows on himself.
      2. "Cheap grace" is the preaching of forgiveness without
         requiring repentance, baptism without commitment, and
         fellowship without obedience.
      3. "Cheap grace" is grace without discipleship, grace without
         the cross, grace without Christ.
      4. "Costly grace" is the rule of Christ in one's heart.
         a. "Costly grace" causes one, as the early disciples, to
            leave his nets and follow the Lord.

IX. TRUE DISCIPLES MAKE OTHER DISCIPLES. Matt. 28:18-20 (See ASV,    
   NASV).
   A. The Greek word in the original in verse 19 is "make disciples" 
      or "make learners, followers."
   B. Successful leaders are those who know their job is to build an
      effective team that will outlast them.
   C. We teach what we know, and we reproduce what we are. 
      1. There's nothing more exciting than helping another person
         become a Christian, and seeing that person enjoy the
         experience of discipleship.

Concl.
   A. True disciples are identified with their Master.
      1. Others can see the radiance of Jesus shining forth in them.
   B. God's plan of the ages was that men might be conformed to the
      image of His son.
      1. Being conformed to the image of Christ is what discipleship
         is all about.
      2. We are students and imitators of our Teacher and Master.
   C. The beginning of Christian discipleship is learning about Jesus
      Christ, and how to get into a right relationship with Him. Gal.
      3:26-27
      1. After one is baptized into Christ, he seeks all his life to
         become a better disciple of his Master and Lord.

Chart #1
1. Being a disciple involves learning.

"And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they
were able to hear it. But without a parable He did not speak to them.
And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples."
(Mark 4:33-34).

Chart #2
2. A disciple is trained to be like his teacher.

"A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is
perfectly trained will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40).

Chart #3
3. A disciple abides in his teacher's word.

"Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in
My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" (John 8:31-32).

Chart #4
4. A disciple has no rivals.

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also,
he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26).

Chart #5
5. A disciple must bear his cross.

"And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot
be My disciple." (Luke 14:27).

Chart #6
6. Discipleship involves no retreats.

"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot
be My disciple." (Luke 14:33).

Chart #7
7. Discipleship involves loving one another.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as
I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:34-35).

Chart #8
8. A true disciple bears fruit.

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you
will be My disciples." (John 15:8).

Chart #9
9. True disciples make other disciples.

"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of
the world." (Matt. 28:20-21 ASV).